Karen Lopp
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: SilverTree Publishing
Date of Publication: May 18, 2014
Number of pages: 223
Cover Artist: Karen Lopp
Amazon
Book Description:
Detective Rissa Marten sacrificed her only chance for a normal life to put a drug lord behind bars. Now, her life in the shadows has to be brought to life to save the man she has secretly loved for years. With a price on her head can she risk letting him know?
Detective Jerah Qassem has built his career as an undercover agent in the dangerous world of drug cartels. But when a ghost from his past is resurrected can he overcome his bitterness in time to save her life?
Excerpt:
Rissa
peeled her eyes open and tossed the pillow off her head. Sun filtered in the
room through the cracks of the curtain. A few blinks later, she let out a slow
breath. Jerah slept by her side. Propped on her elbows she took a leisurely
study of him. Hair mussed and shirtless, his dark toned skin made her mouth
water. Two days’ worth of whiskers darkened his firm jaw that hung slightly
open. The urge to run her fingers through that curly chest hair pulled at her
heart. His abs were ripped and yummy. She grinned and reached out.
A
cold fist of reality punched her in the gut and Rissa yanked her hand back. She
could never jeopardize Jerah’s life like that, no matter how strong the
temptation. Even a date was off limits. She jerked up and rubbed the base of
her neck. The last two times she dated, both men ended up dead. Nothing but a
deep rooted gut feeling suggested foul play, but she would never take that
chance again. Besides, a life on the run didn’t make relationships an option.
If Rissa were killed that was one thing, but anyone she ever got close to ended
up six feet under. Even though Chief Wassom took her in, she had never gone to
any family functions and rarely saw him outside of work.
Rissa
tugged on her shoes and cast one last look at Jerah’s bare chest. Would he
still be alive if he had taken her up on her offer of sex eight years ago?
Somehow, even from prison, her mother managed to find and kill those she cared
about. That was a worse punishment than being tortured to death.
A
quick survey of the sparsely furnished room reminded her of her place. No
family photos, no personal items, and probably frozen dinners in the freezer.
She hated to think Jerah lived like this.
Still
tired, Rissa padded to the kitchen and peeked inside the refrigerator and
frowned. Didn’t Jerah ever have a meal at home? Hungry, she fetched her
borrowed jacket and grinned when she spied some cash on the dresser. Jerah
hadn’t moved and she flicked another longing glance over him. Look but don’t
touch. She did have one thing in common with her mother. They both were in
prison. Her mother’s was concrete and bars, hers was forced isolation.
Outside,
she glanced up and down the street in search of food. Across the street a few
tables sat along the sidewalk and she headed in that direction, grateful Jerah
had a hefty stash of cash. She passed a phone store and slipped inside. It was
past time to get a cell phone and check in with Montoya.
Phone
in hand, Rissa stepped outside and punched in a quick text. Stomach rumbling,
she hurried to the burger joint.
Her
phone buzzed. “Hello.”
“I
think Qassem may be the perp.” Montoya’s sharp tone startled her.
Ice
trailed down her spine. “Why?”
“Meet
me in one hour in front of the USS Midway Museum.”
Rissa
frowned when Montoya hung up on her without any more explanation. Something had
happened while she was gone. With a bag of burgers, fries, and two large cokes,
she hustled back to Jerah’s apartment. Jerah couldn’t be a murderer. He just
couldn’t. A lump formed in her throat. She would have never believed her mother
could kill either. But she had, right in front of her.
More Romance Please Author Interview
Questions
MRP would like to extend a very warm welcome to Karen Lopp, author of Splintered Lies. Karen, who or what most influenced you to become a
writer?
My greatest
influence to become a writer came from reading everything in the library and
getting frustrated when I had finished and there were no new books available.
By the time I had finished my first draft I knew there was no going back. I
needed to write as much as I needed to read.
If you were to be left alone on an island,
what three books would you take with you?
The Scarlet
Pimpernel for a love story, any Hank the Cowdog book for a good laugh, and the
Bible for inspiration.
What are your most and least favorite movie
genres?
My favorite is
action/thrillers and my least favorite would be horror.
If you could choose any man for your next
book cover, who would he be?
I’ve never
thought about that one. I’d prefer someone unknown so the reader didn’t have a
preconceived idea of the character in the book.
When you are on a deadline, what aspect of
your ‘regular’ life suffers most?
The dishes.
What advice would you give aspiring
authors?
Always be
willing to learn from your mistakes and listen to your instincts but be open to
advice. Take criticism with grace and turn it into a positive.
What advice would you give seasoned writers?
Never forget
your first love of writing anddon’t get so comfortable with your career that
you refuse to continue to grow as a writer.
When reading for pleasure, do you prefer a
physical or electronic book?
Electronic.
From the first stroke of a pen (or laptop),
how long did it take you get published? Approximately 7 to 8 years. I
wasn’t too serious about publishing in the beginning.
Did you ever feel like calling it quits?
No, I have been
extremely frustrate at times, though.
What did you do when you got your first
contract?
Did a jig and
called all my kids.
Thank you so much for joining us today, Karen. We really enjoyed the visit. Good luck and great sales with Splintered Lies.
About the Author:
I love history of all times and places. And my second but equal love of suspense fills my books.
Author Links:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
Tour giveaway
3 ebook copies of Splintered Lies
1 grand prize throw blanket open to US Shipping
Thank you for having me on your lovely blog today. I enjoyed answering your questions.
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